Burma Army Shoots, Tortures, Captures Church Members

Burma Army Shoots, Tortures, Captures Church Members

Soldiers from the Burma Army attacked a church in Kachin State, Burma, shooting at worshipers, severely torturing pastor Yajawng Hkawng, who remains in the hospital, and taking at least 50 church members to work as forced porters for the army, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports. Several were injured in the shooting, including a deacon, and the soldiers also looted donation boxes and burned down the house of one church member. "The military in Burma has unleashed yet another wave of terror against civilians in the ethnic states, at a time when the regime is speaking about reform," said Benedict Rogers, CSW's East Asia team leader. "Attacking churches where civilians are gathering to pray peacefully is a serious violation of religious freedom."